I am a Partner and lead the Southampton and Salisbury Private Client Team. I qualified as a solicitor in 2009 and have been advising clients ever since.
I undertake all areas of Private Client work, including tax planning, creating trusts, administering trusts, tax calculations, the preparation of Wills and powers of attorney, and probate and estate administration.
I have experience with tax planning and complex Will drafting and often works closely with the Corporate Team to provide the best solution for their clients when it comes to succession planning.
I regularly create trusts and administer them for my clients to protect family wealth, vulnerable beneficiaries and mitigate tax. I also prepare Lasting Powers of Attorney and Deputyship applications and deal with probates and estate administration, including those involving foreign assets, business assets and agricultural assets.
I enjoy private client work because it allows me the opportunity to get to know my clients and understand their needs, allowing me to find the best solution for them. I adopt a holistic approach, working closely with the client’s other advisers such as their accountants or financial advisers.
I am a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners – the gold standard in this area of law – and sit on the local committee.
I am named as a Next Generation Partner in the Legal 500 2021 guide.
‘Mihiri Gajraj is an outstanding lawyer, with fantastic integrity in all aspects of our work together. She does what she says and gets it done in good time.‘ - Legal 500 2021
Areas of Expertise
Case Study
I have helped clients mitigate inheritance tax by making maximum use of the exemptions available to them and setting up trusts and tax efficient wills.
I recently completed a complex estate administration where there were over 30 beneficiaries, each receiving different entitlements and over 100 different shareholdings and properties.
I am currently assisting trustees in negotiating with HMRC where the trustees did not realise they were obligated to complete tax returns to HMRC and therefore had not done so for over 10 years.
I have successfully obtained agricultural property relief and business property relief for several clients.
I have successfully claimed the inheritance tax exemption for gifts out of income.
I have prepared Wills where there has been a second relationship to protect the surviving partner whilst guaranteeing assets will pass in the long-term to the children of the first marriage.
What others say
‘I have worked most closely with Mihiri Gajraj at Trethowans LLP. I find Mihiri a pleasure to work with. She is friendly and professional, quick to respond to any queries and always willing to help. Her work is accurate and well written, and her attention to detail is excellent, which I feel is especially important when preparing trust deeds. I am confident recommending Mihiri to my clients and to other professionals I work with, and have done so on numerous occasions.‘ – Legal 500 2021
The Legal 500 2019 said Mihiri has “an answer for everything and really cares for her clients” and “combines a friendly attitude with incredible efficiency and knowledge”
Mihiri is also ranked in the Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2021. Mihiri “has just a fantastic way of dealing with clients,” notes a source, who adds: “She is forensic with the detail and can articulate it simply to the client.” Another interviewee says: “Her strengths are her knowledge, ability to think on her feet and explain things in a way that clients understand, and speed and efficiency of service.” Her practice includes wills, trusts and tax matters.
Away from the office
I live with my husband in Southampton and enjoy travelling, going to the theatre and cooking. I like to experiment with new recipes – some successful, some not!
